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For those in his world, Miik Wells is known as a “Cheshire Catalyst;” a powerfully transformational man who beautifully connects deep soul work with playful joy and creates positive change in the world with every step he takes.
The single most powerful source of his strength is his son, Mateo, who he heart-warmingly refers to as his “JoyBoy.”
Unfortunately, Miik and Mateo haven’t spent time together in over two months due to the extremely hurtful and incorrect assertions by Mateo’s other parent. For the second time in two years, Miik has suffered unfounded accusations of abuse, Child Protective Services investigations (which have found zero evidence of mistreatment), and undeserved protection orders keeping him from his son.
Not only has the trauma of this breakage in their familial bond affected Miik with deep heartbreak, it’s also seemingly showed up in his son’s behaviors. At five years old, in the midst of this experience, Mateo has a police record for violent behavior–– behavior Miik believes to be stemming from the extreme change, emotional severing, and structural damage caused by their separation.
In his own words…
“I’m Miik Wells, and the deepest Love of my Life is my JoyBoy, Mateo. We firmly attached to each other from his birth in November of 2012, when he heard my voice, immediately stopped crying, and opened his eyes to find and lock eyes with me. That attachment deepened for us during the nine months I was his primary caregiver, as his mother was recovering from the severe surgical complications of his birth. I held him skin-to-skin, fed him, bathed him, talked to him, sang to him, slept alongside him, took walks with him, took pictures and videos of him, and took him everywhere to show him off to everyone I could.
In 2014, his mother and I separated, divorcing a year later, which marked the beginning of her multiple attempts to tear me and Mateo apart. Since then, I’ve been on the target end of her many false and escalating claims alleging all manner of violence and abuse against my son. She has threatened my name, my personhood, my livelihood (as I work with young people), and even my freedom by placing well over twenty calls to CPS and petitioning the Court multiple times for Restraining and Protection Orders in her attempts to force me out of his life.
It has been absolutely terrifying as a Black Father who only has love in my heart for Mateo to constantly have to prove I'm not the danger she insists I am to a system built to assume that of people who look like me.
Over the last four years, I have opened myself, my life, and my relationship to multiple interviews and multiple investigations by multiple governmental entities; and, every time, each of the allegations and cases have been closed as UNFOUNDED.
I am not now, I have never been, and I will never be violent, abusive, or in any way harmful to Mateo.
As much as I can acknowledge Mateo’s mother’s wounding and how I believe it is showing up in our parenting dynamic, I can no longer excuse her unwillingness to see the present truth beyond her painful past. I cannot accept that her hurting is leading to false accusations and ultimately, an extremely damaging life for my beautiful son.
Currently, I’m in the second consecutive year of being kept away from Mateo for two-plus months (March to May, of 2017 and now again in 2018) by Temporary Protection Order and multiple continuances. When a judge finally rules a rightful denial, this horrific part of my legal experience will come to an end, but Mateo and I will still suffer the emotional consequences. I have endured years of mental, emotional, and relational torment, overwhelm, anxiety, and heartache from being grossly harassed and accused by Mateo’s mother.
Additionally, I’m acutely aware that Mateo, as young and open-hearted as he is, is enduring MUCH worse. Mateo isn't in a place to consciously articulate what he needs; but, it is clear that he is crying out for help.
Not only does he have to deal with the dissonance of having his mother harboring severely negative feelings toward his father (who is also part of him); but also, he’s lost in how to process not having access to me. He has multiple behavioral incident reports at school, he's reported as being “out of control” in his mother's care, and he now has a police record with his name attached because his mother says he was harming her and himself.
Again, as a Black Father in the US, I am terrified for my son--what may be expected of him, how he may be treated, and how his behavior may be perceived that very well could be used against him in unspeakable ways.
With all that, I've been informed that Mateo is being negatively affected by his mom's demonstrated lack of capacity to comprehensively support his full well-being, given her unwillingness to attend to her own issues and internal health. It’s heartbreaking on a whole separate level that his mother is unable to truly care for herself, and that our son is having to suffer the consequences of her struggles. As much as I would be overjoyed to provide our son with the support, love, and time he needs as she works towards her own wellness, I’m being kept from him entirely, which serves no one.
I need for my son to be safe. I need my son to be able to process his overwhelm healthily. I need for my son to heal in a safe space among people who deeply care for him. I need for my son to thrive into his fullness of the Joy that he embodies.
Mateo needs me. He needs his Father.
The only way I feel that I can make that happen is through legal representation that, right now, I cannot afford. It is with a vulnerable and humble heart that I offer an invitation to support me in my efforts to reunite with my child, my Heart, my deepest Love… in a way that is healthy and sustainable for him."
WHERE YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL GO:
The target amount is for immediate legal representation on Miik's behalf in order to gain access to his son, and to prevent the current pattern of familial upset from continuing. This amount is the fee that has been quoted by the Miik's attorney.
Anything above and beyond will go toward shifting the current Parenting Plan toward a more stable home, atmosphere, and community.
If you’re able to contribute funds to Miik's legal fees, it would mean the world to his family, and it would surely change Mateo’s life for the better.
Give what you can, share where you can, and support this incredible father in reuniting with his son.
*Please note: Nicole Donovan, Miik’s wife, will receive the funds raised by this campaign on his behalf.*
The single most powerful source of his strength is his son, Mateo, who he heart-warmingly refers to as his “JoyBoy.”
Unfortunately, Miik and Mateo haven’t spent time together in over two months due to the extremely hurtful and incorrect assertions by Mateo’s other parent. For the second time in two years, Miik has suffered unfounded accusations of abuse, Child Protective Services investigations (which have found zero evidence of mistreatment), and undeserved protection orders keeping him from his son.
Not only has the trauma of this breakage in their familial bond affected Miik with deep heartbreak, it’s also seemingly showed up in his son’s behaviors. At five years old, in the midst of this experience, Mateo has a police record for violent behavior–– behavior Miik believes to be stemming from the extreme change, emotional severing, and structural damage caused by their separation.
In his own words…
“I’m Miik Wells, and the deepest Love of my Life is my JoyBoy, Mateo. We firmly attached to each other from his birth in November of 2012, when he heard my voice, immediately stopped crying, and opened his eyes to find and lock eyes with me. That attachment deepened for us during the nine months I was his primary caregiver, as his mother was recovering from the severe surgical complications of his birth. I held him skin-to-skin, fed him, bathed him, talked to him, sang to him, slept alongside him, took walks with him, took pictures and videos of him, and took him everywhere to show him off to everyone I could.
In 2014, his mother and I separated, divorcing a year later, which marked the beginning of her multiple attempts to tear me and Mateo apart. Since then, I’ve been on the target end of her many false and escalating claims alleging all manner of violence and abuse against my son. She has threatened my name, my personhood, my livelihood (as I work with young people), and even my freedom by placing well over twenty calls to CPS and petitioning the Court multiple times for Restraining and Protection Orders in her attempts to force me out of his life.
It has been absolutely terrifying as a Black Father who only has love in my heart for Mateo to constantly have to prove I'm not the danger she insists I am to a system built to assume that of people who look like me.
Over the last four years, I have opened myself, my life, and my relationship to multiple interviews and multiple investigations by multiple governmental entities; and, every time, each of the allegations and cases have been closed as UNFOUNDED.
I am not now, I have never been, and I will never be violent, abusive, or in any way harmful to Mateo.
As much as I can acknowledge Mateo’s mother’s wounding and how I believe it is showing up in our parenting dynamic, I can no longer excuse her unwillingness to see the present truth beyond her painful past. I cannot accept that her hurting is leading to false accusations and ultimately, an extremely damaging life for my beautiful son.
Currently, I’m in the second consecutive year of being kept away from Mateo for two-plus months (March to May, of 2017 and now again in 2018) by Temporary Protection Order and multiple continuances. When a judge finally rules a rightful denial, this horrific part of my legal experience will come to an end, but Mateo and I will still suffer the emotional consequences. I have endured years of mental, emotional, and relational torment, overwhelm, anxiety, and heartache from being grossly harassed and accused by Mateo’s mother.
Additionally, I’m acutely aware that Mateo, as young and open-hearted as he is, is enduring MUCH worse. Mateo isn't in a place to consciously articulate what he needs; but, it is clear that he is crying out for help.
Not only does he have to deal with the dissonance of having his mother harboring severely negative feelings toward his father (who is also part of him); but also, he’s lost in how to process not having access to me. He has multiple behavioral incident reports at school, he's reported as being “out of control” in his mother's care, and he now has a police record with his name attached because his mother says he was harming her and himself.
Again, as a Black Father in the US, I am terrified for my son--what may be expected of him, how he may be treated, and how his behavior may be perceived that very well could be used against him in unspeakable ways.
With all that, I've been informed that Mateo is being negatively affected by his mom's demonstrated lack of capacity to comprehensively support his full well-being, given her unwillingness to attend to her own issues and internal health. It’s heartbreaking on a whole separate level that his mother is unable to truly care for herself, and that our son is having to suffer the consequences of her struggles. As much as I would be overjoyed to provide our son with the support, love, and time he needs as she works towards her own wellness, I’m being kept from him entirely, which serves no one.
I need for my son to be safe. I need my son to be able to process his overwhelm healthily. I need for my son to heal in a safe space among people who deeply care for him. I need for my son to thrive into his fullness of the Joy that he embodies.
Mateo needs me. He needs his Father.
The only way I feel that I can make that happen is through legal representation that, right now, I cannot afford. It is with a vulnerable and humble heart that I offer an invitation to support me in my efforts to reunite with my child, my Heart, my deepest Love… in a way that is healthy and sustainable for him."
WHERE YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL GO:
The target amount is for immediate legal representation on Miik's behalf in order to gain access to his son, and to prevent the current pattern of familial upset from continuing. This amount is the fee that has been quoted by the Miik's attorney.
Anything above and beyond will go toward shifting the current Parenting Plan toward a more stable home, atmosphere, and community.
If you’re able to contribute funds to Miik's legal fees, it would mean the world to his family, and it would surely change Mateo’s life for the better.
Give what you can, share where you can, and support this incredible father in reuniting with his son.
*Please note: Nicole Donovan, Miik’s wife, will receive the funds raised by this campaign on his behalf.*
Organizer and beneficiary
Nicole Donovan
Beneficiary